The Road to Holberg
The forest was dense, trees behind trees behind trees, each making its strange little noises. There was nowhere in the empire quiet like this place. It seemed like silence after a while, all those sounds merging into a quite cacophony. Cerwynn stared out over the wooden walls of the Broch’s battlements, rubbing his temple. A hand reached down to the flask at his hip and hesitated there.
No, they need you.
With a sigh, he withdrew his hand and pulled his cloak over the flask, and turned back to the training grounds below him. Lynn was drilling the troop again, pairing them off to spar. She circled the grounds watching them clash. When one would relax his guard she would wordlessly intercede, raising his arm to the correct position and closing his grip more firmly, without so much as making eye contact. They were still a little intimidated by her, as fresh a bunch of soldier as their were, their thorn still red and raw, freshly branded on their cheeks, but Cerwynn knew he had made the right choice, she was the one of the few who were properly trained, and the only one who could keep them in line.
Another day. Another few miles closer. Broceliande may have its dangers, but they were ones to which Navarr were well versed in. Holberg was something else. People went in, bodies came out. He had read the reports, followed the battle closely for that last year. The last season alone had cost the lives of well over a thousand imperial troops, and now it was his turn to march to Holberg to die.
He took a deep breath and steeled his nerves, and his courage. Truth was it wasn't his death that concerned him so much. But his congregation? He had spent a long time questioning his decision. Farmers, innkeepers, and widows, taken up arms to fight for the empire, for him, but it was more than that. These were people who he had guided, who his father had guided, who he had known his whole life, and now they were marching to war. It was hardly the first time members of the congregation had taken up arms but this felt different. They weren't following a general. They were following him.
Cerwynn the blind, Cerwynn who fell asleep on watch, Cerwynn who let his family die.
He took a deep breath, and shook the thoughts from his mind. He knew his path now; Loyalty would prevail. He climbed the steps down to join Lynn and the others.
“Sergeant, thats enough for this morning, we need to make a move if we want to be out of Broceliande by nightfall.”
-----
Lunetta fitfully awoke, her dreams plagued by homesickness and fears for those she had both left in Tassato and Sarvos, and those she was travelling to see in Holberg. She moved herself into a sitting position, and rubbed her face with her hands.
“Please let everything I dreamed stay in dreams.” She mentally begged. “I don’t want to think about what would happen if not…” She frowned, and began to pull her aching body from the bed. “It’s not far now…” she muttered out loud, soothingly to herself, trying to convince herself that all would be well. “We just have to get through Dawn. We’re in the right area...We’re close…” She faltered.
After a much-needed bath, and breakfast with Marsilio, the two of them picked their bags and travelling equipment up once more. Marsilio, in his crimson doublet with puffed sleeves that doubled his arm width, placed his sword in its frog, and nodded to Lunetta.
“So we intend to travel across to Greenstead, yes?” He confirmed with her.
“Yes. And then up to the mountain pass. Nora said it was the only way into the city now.” Lunetta nodded back, black bags beginning to show beneath her eyes.
“It’s not that far.” Marsilio commented, trying to lighten Lunetta’s seemingly struggling mood.
“I know.” She replied, smiling weakly. “We should get on the road soon, or we will lose hours of daylight…” Marsilio nodded, and opened the door for her. Giving their thanks and a generous tip to the innkeeper, the road once more beckoned, and they began back on their journey.
Marsilio, attempting to raise spirits, told anecdotes and capered around like a dramaturge who had had one too many flagons of mead, and spoke of other journeys and travels he had been on. Lunetta attempted to humour him, but her concentration was focussed on simply putting one foot in front of the other; a ditty in her mind. “Another step closer to Holberg...another step closer to Nora…” circling and circling with each step.
Lunetta did not know how long they had been walking (for over the journey they had taken innumerable steps) when they encountered the signpost at the road’s edge. Broceliande lay ahead by just one mile, much to her relief, but there was more to the signage than that. Beneath the mile marker...there was a strange marking. She was sure she had seen it somewhere before, but the memory escaped her. Marsilio, however, had also spotted it.
“Vallorn.” He commented, shortly.
“Pardon?” Lunetta looked at him, quizzically. He nodded to the symbol.
“Vallorn. It’s the Navarri symbol.” He drew his sword. “You might want to get prepared.” He added, looking at Lunetta’s sword, still sheathed. “If we do come across one, we won’t want to give it more opportunity than it’ll already have.” Lunetta uncertainly drew her sword. She had only heard tales of the Vallorn, and even then they had been somewhat lacking in detail. Something about spring magic and “living trees” or something? All she knew was that they were responsible for the Navarr losing their lands, and, given that the Navarr still only had limited territory, she guessed they were strong enough to keep their armies from taking it back.
The sound of crunching caught her attention. Marsilio and Lunetta both turned, spooked, to look behind them. Lunetta grinned as she saw a unit of armed warriors striding towards them.
“I take it the Vallorn don’t look like Navarr?” She chuckled, nudging Marsilio, who seemed to be slightly paler than he had been. He glared at her, and then grinned.
“You’ve certainly cheered up. You haven’t mocked me like that for days…”
“Yeah…” She replied, as she spotted the man at the front of the unit. “...Amazing what can happen when you spot another member of your assembly!” She sheathed her sword.
“Cerwynn, isn’t it? This is a wonderful coincidence!”
Cerwynn raised an eyebrow at the brightly clothed Leaguer standing proud in a Vallorn forest, “Lunetta? What brings a League priest to Broceliande?” He signalled to the Soldiers to hold.
“That is a very good question.” She admitted, raising an eyebrow. “I’m on my way to Holberg, to visit a friend in mourning. This is Marsilio,” she gestured to him, as he warily put his sword back in its frog. “the Bravo who has been watching over me since we left Sarvos.” Marsilio bowed his head in greeting, remaining silent.
Cerwynn took a stride to offer his hand, “Always good to meet a fellow soldier, Marsilio!”
Marsilio accepted Cerwynn’s hand and shook it strongly. “Likewise. I’ve never travelled under a banner like yours, though.” He replied, nodding at the group of soldiers.
“It’s all new to me too, but rewarding to fight amongst friends,” He turned to Lunetta, “Would you like to travel with us? These aren’t exactly the safest roads in the Empire by a long way, and we’re heading to Holberg ourselves to help lift the siege.”
Lunetta smiled, relieved, at him. “That would be wonderful. It has been a fairly peaceful journey so far, but the company would be greatly appreciated. And I hear there are Vallorn along these roads?” She looked between Marsilio and Cerwynn, uncertainly.
“Vallornspawn aren’t uncommon here, Teruneal is the biggest infestation of Vallorn in the empire and their spawn often wonder around the territory. If we stick to the trods, move carefully and quickly, and send scouts ahead to watch the road we should be fine. Just don’t go wandering into the forest if you need to pass water.”
Lunetta looked at him, blankly. “...Vallornspawn? Trods?” Her eyes showed no sign of understanding or comprehension at all.
Cerwynn gave something between a sigh and a chuckle, “Vallorn are the root of the infestation. Kind of like an eternal, or a sovereign if you know much about Varushkan problems. They tend not to leave the infested cities. Their spawn on the other hand is the direct threat, and they can be anything. They take nature and twist it into monsters. Bees, flowers, even your best friends,” he gave a glance to Marsilio, “Believe me you’ll know one when you see one, and it’s never pretty. As for the Trods? well…” He patted the ground beneath him with his foot, ”You're standing on one.”
Lunetta looked at him, perplexed. “The roads? Oh, I see, the trods are…” She nodded. “...it’s like Bravos and Thorns, right? Another word for the same thing.” She paused for breath, and Cerwynn seized the chance to correct some of her misunderstandings.
“Well it’s more… well, yes I guess, though there’s a little more to it than that. When we walk them we weaken the Vallorn; it’s very old magic.”
Lunetta looked just as confused. “The roads are magical?” She asked. Shaking her head, she returned to her original train of thought. “Regarding the Vallorn, I’ve never seen one, and I never really want to. But what’s the difference between a Vallorn and a Vallornspawn? And,” her voice grew apologetic, “I haven’t spent much time around the Varushkans...so… “sovereigns”?” She chuckled slightly, embarrassed by her ignorance.
“If I ever see a Vallorn I’ll let you know, assuming I survive. I did see a Sovereign once though. I don't really understand them very well; it was having its head chopped off by something even nastier at the time called a Volodni, and I understand them even less. Like I said, Varushkan problems.”
“Should I even ask what a “Volodni” is?” Lunetta asked, raising her eyebrows.
“Best if you don’t. I can’t tell you anything more about it apart from the nightmares the damn thing gave me. I recommend spending some time with the Varushkans next time you're in Anvil if you’re curious,” Cerwynn looked up at the sky briefly, “We should get moving, you don’t want to be stuck in these woods at nightfall.”
Lunetta nodded, and as they walked, commented, “You never told me what a Vallornspawn looked like…just that they could look like friends?”
“The Vallorn are like a disease, they infect anything that gets in their path. Trees, animals, even corpses. It’s not unheard of for fallen comrades who give their lives too close to these places to become vessels for the same corruption. The soul is gone, but the body moves, like the Husks the Thule are so fond of using. Having to fight friends who have fallen to such a fate is… not easy. It is why so many Navarr can be uncomfortable around briars. The symptoms are all too familiar for some.”
Lunetta shuddered. “I can understand that. That sounds horrifying…”
Cerwynn gave a mannered smile “Why do you think we’re so keen to fight everyone else’s battles?”
Lunetta nodded, but stayed quiet. She was still coming to terms with the thought of those she cared for being used as puppets for the enemy’s purposes. She hoped and prayed such abilities were not in use near Holberg. Her thoughts turned to Nora, and her need to get to Holberg quickly, intensified. Marsilio gently tapped her on the arm, but she either ignored him or was unaware of it, he couldn’t tell which.
“You’ll be fine with us, Lunetta di Sarvos, we won't be going too close to Teruneal, and there hasn’t been much fighting in Broceliande for a while. Worst you might see is some Druj trying their luck getting through the forests from Reikos.”
“I’m not a “di Sarvos” anymore.” She replied, quietly. “I’m a “Sanguineo”. I’m engaged to Felix Nieschteri Rezia di Tassato, of the Gilded Horn Carta.” She smiled, weakly. “One day we’ll get our wedding day, when the Carta deems it to be the right time.” She fiddled with the ring on her left ring finger, the other three rings on her hands prominently glinting in the sunlight.
“I meant no offense Lunetta, I am not too familiar with League naming traditions. I have met your betrothed, briefly. I wish you both prosperity. Love strengthens our bonds more than most things, and gives us the passion to do what we need to do. Have you ever heard the tale of Thorn and Navarr? It is one of our oldest, and most valued tales.”
She smiled, a little more fully. “Thank you. I appreciate your well wishes.” She went to speak and then laughed at the word “valued”. Realising how ungrateful she must have sounded, she quickly explained. “Sorry! It’s just that the last time the word “value” was used in my vicinity, I had to drag my beloved away from an Orc and his grandfather’s hip bone… I would love to hear the tale. I don’t believe I have heard it before.”
“The truth of the tale is a bit of a tragic one. I think something more lighthearted is better suited for this journey, but I do know a song the Bard of Brackensong taught me about their final sacrifice…”
Cerwynn took a breath and launched into a tuneful melody, moderately sung, of “A Sudden Farewell”. A love song of Thorn and Navarr’s last moments together.
Lunetta and Marsilio said nothing as the song was sung, and every time the words “a sudden farewell” appeared, Lunetta felt a pang in her stomach, remembering the speed at which her departure had commenced and the mere minutes between the writing of letters to both Nora and Felix telling them of how she would be soon to leave, and she and Marsilio beginning their journey. She did her best to look interested in the song, and as unshakeable as ever, but inside, her head and her heart were furiously battling against each other. She was almost relieved when the song ended and she could break into applause and demure smiles, just praying that no-one asked for opinion or reaction.
“Cai, you know Down in the Rugged Glen, right? why don't you lead the next one.” The young Innskeeper smiled and nodded, making his oversized helmet wobble, and burst into song. Some of the troop began to join in, and for a few minutes the worries of the road were forgotten.
During the song, there was a commotion further down the trod. On the horizon, a lone figure began to become clearer...and they were running. Fast. As they drew closer, it became clear they were shouting, but the words were not yet distinguishable.
“Our scout… Sergeant, on me!” Cerwynn barked and burst into a run following the commotion, drawing his sword.
A young woman, probably barely out of her teens, ran towards the unit, her chestnut hair wild in the wind. “Vallornspawn! Vallornspawn!” She cried, terror on her face, her dagger drawn. She slowed as she saw Cerwynn and Lynn, and saluted, out of breath.
Lunetta and Marsilio almost in tandem, drew their swords, ready, looking at each other in mild shock. Nothing of this sort had happened so far on their fairly peaceful journey.
Cerwynn turned to the troop, “STAGGERED LINE SPREAD OUT AND SKIRMISH! YOU THREE STAY WITH THE LEAGUERS.” Lunetta and Marsilio found themselves surrounded by three Navarri warriors, who ushered them back behind the front line. Marsilio began to protest.
“I’ve fought things five times as challenging as a vallornspawn.” He remarked, the bravado the League’s Bravos were known for, beginning to shine through. “Let me help the front line.”
“I’m hardly going to stop you Marsilio, just don't make me have to save you either,”
Marsilio laughed cockily. “As if that would happen.” He turned to Lunetta and bowed. “You’ll be safe here. A Bravo has to do what a Bravo has to do.” And with that, he sprinted into the centre of the front line, his rapier drawn. Lunetta went to protest, but he was already in position, calling out to the Navarr around him, cracking jokes and betting “he could slay more”. The nervous, inexperienced thorns did not respond but for a few unsteady smiles. This was their first proper battle, and the sweat was already starting to run.
Cerwynn turned to the scout, “How many? Are they heading for us?”
“Not sure sir, 10, maybe more? They were in the woodlands to the south heading straight for us.” The young scout replied, her body tensed like a coiled spring, ready to lash out at the first spawn to dare get too close to her dagger.
Cerwynn scratched what was beginning to be a beard, “10… we can handle ten. REMEMBER, WHEN THEY FALL, MAKE SURE THEY WON'T BE GETTING UP AGAIN, DON'T LEAVE IT TO CHANCE.” he briefly looked back at Lunetta, “We’ll be fine, they tend not to move too fast so they’re only a problem in big numbers.”
Lunetta nodded. She hadn’t fought in any actual battle for at least three seasons, having only sparred in Anvil with the Bravos for the remaining time. Acutely aware that she was the only one without any armour, she reminded herself that while courage was a virtue, so was wisdom...and Felix would much rather her wisdom won out this particular time.
Creaking could be heard, like that of a tall tree in a high wind. Shuffling from between the trees. A strange scent hit the group as they waited at the treeline, a mix of pollen, soil, and sap.
“GAS! MASKS ON!!” The Navarr all scrambled for pieces of cloth to cover their mouths, a few at the front coughing already, “LYNN! find some spares for our guests, NOW!” She nodded, and ran over to Lunetta whilst ripping her own in two, and offered the larger end to her.
Lunetta looked around at everyone, and was taken aback when a piece of cloth was pushed into her hands. Copying everyone else, she forced her courage to stay where it was needed. The urge to turn and flee was huge, but her need to reach Holberg was larger. Marsilio had already grabbed his neckchief and pulled it up to his face, its fine brocades and rich reds and golds a far cry from the more woody colours of the Navarr.
The shuffling and creaking grew closer. Shapes started to emerge from the woods. twisted things no longer recognisable amidst the sprouting vines and thorns and branches that corrupted their form. A couple were more recent, and clearly of Orc origin, mud dribbled from their eyes and mouth as they stumbled forward.
“REMEMBER WHAT YOU ARE. YOU ARE NAVARRI, YOU ARE THORNS. REMEMBER YOUR OATHS, YOUR BRANDS, YOUR LOYALTY. REMEMBER WHY YOU ARE HERE. NAVARR! NAVARR! FIGHT... AS... THORN!”
And with that, the Navarr charged.
Cerwynn was certainly an effective leader, Lunetta realised, as the unit moved forward as one. She followed, the three Navarr staying close to her, while Marsilio charged without a second thought.
The battle was locked. As green as the Navarri were, their courage tempered their fear, and they gave no quarter, hacking at the bizarre creature until nothing remained.
Marsilio’s eyes locked on to one of the Vallornspawn further ahead. He rushed at it, sparing not a second as he began to slice and parry, ducking and diving nimbly as it attempted to lay a blow on him. He spent some time tormenting the creature, before putting his full force behind a decapitating blow, sending the body of the doomed Orc to the floor, as its head rolled away merrily.
Lunetta, meanwhile, was keeping track of the battle unfolding in front of her, ready to take on any vallornspawn that got past the Navarr or (virtues forbid) fell the Navarr they were fighting. However, her eye was quickly drawn to the trees surrounding them, as two Orc Vallornspawn began to draw towards them. Two of the Navarr guards went after one of them, leaving Lunetta and the third Thorn to take on the second. Saying nothing, signalling to each other through movement and eye alone, Lunetta and the Thorn flanked the creature, and began taking slashes at it in tandem. The creature took an interest in Lunetta, and turned to face her. Clenching the rag around her mouth in her offhand, she began to slash at the hands and forearms of the creature. Being careful to keep herself as far from its clutches as possible, she flicked her eyes up to her defender and then down to the creature’s leg. The Thorn nodded, and Lunetta ducked, aiming a blow at the creature’s right knee. It crashed down to the ground, mud spewing from the wound, as the Thorn struck the creature full force in the chest. It fell, apparently dead, but for good measure, the Thorn took its head off as well. He nodded in thanks at Lunetta, and offered his hand to her. Gratefully taking it, she stood up, her heart racing. As they went to rejoin the others, she looked back at the pool of mud forming around the motionless body.
After the last of the Vallornspawn fell, they had little chance to rest, “We need... to keep moving,” Cerwynn explained between huffs, “More will come, we can’t stop here.”
The Navarr travelled silently for a way, reflecting on the skirmish behind them. Marsilio, however, took it upon himself to regale the unit with a hastily composed epic about their brave battle (and all the Vallornspawn he himself had slain, of course). He didn’t seem to care how many people were or were not listening, for the epic was sung to the Empire in general, loud and proud as ever.
Cerwynn travelled alongside Lunetta at the front of the column, After a way she noticed his hands shaking, as he reached for a flask at his hip. He awkwardly unscrewed it and took a deep swig before offering some to her.
Lunetta looked at him quizzically. “What’s in there?” She asked.
“Whiskey. Some of the Thorntarry’s brew. Don’t worry, it’s some of their weaker surplus.”
Lunetta grinned. “I know of the Thorntarry’s. Anything they call “weak” is still stronger than most! Delicious, however.” She added. She held her hand up, though and replied “I’m not sure it would be wise of me to drink. I need to be of clear mind when I get into Holberg. Thank you for your kind offer, though.”
Cerwynn shrugged, took another swig and returned the flask. His hands continued to shake if less noticeably. The usual cheer in him had faded though, and a more melancholy mood had taken him.
Lunetta frowned, and then walked slightly closer to him. “Are you well, brother?” The concern in her voice was clear.
“Uninjured, we fought well.”
She gave him a knowing look. “You know that’s not what I meant, surely?”
“They will fight well in Holberg too,” he stubbornly avoided her gaze, “Under a Vigilant Captain, they might even survive.”
Understanding dawned in Lunetta’s eyes. She paused for a second, trying to figure out the best way of approaching the fight soon to arise in Holberg, and then replied. “They have a Vigilant Captain, and a Loyal one, too.” She reminded him. “You commanded them as a true leader, and they respect you, that much is clear. Do not doubt your authority and capability,” she implored him. “for that will only lead to your fears being realised.”
“Oh, but they have already, and not for the first time. There is a reason I have strode alone till now. I fear I will fail them. I fear I will get them killed. I fear I will watch them be cut down one by one, and only I shall be left once more.” He reached for his hip flask again and took another deep, awkward swig.
“You led them, back there.” Lunetta reiterated. “Fear is capable of being overcome. Fear stops us from being the strong, proud, brave people we can be. You proved yourself capable of leading these people into a battle, albeit a small one, and leading them on from it. The only difference in Holberg will be you will be one small part of one large army, facing off against other small groups amalgamated into a larger one. You will not be alone on that battlefield. It will be the Empire, united, together, loyal to each other; fighting alongside each other. You’re capable of that. Your unit is capable of that. I have seen it.”
“We shall see what my destiny holds. Vigilance was a tiring path to follow. You must be constant, at all times constant. There is no room for anything short of that in a Vigilant man’s heart. I have proven it is not my path, and while I know my Loyalty will never falter, the consequences of that failure still haunt me,” He looks her dead in the eye. A hardened look, unblinking. “My death is nothing to me. But a year ago I sought it like a hunter seeks it’s prey. But of those that rely on me?” he looks back into the awkward Column. The heart broken sergeant, the ambitious youth, the nervous innkeeper, all listening to Marsilio’s grand tales, “It cuts me deeper than I can say. Part of me wishes I were making this journey alone, and I would, were it not my solemn duty to do all I can to fight this endless war.”
“If you went alone, I daren’t think where you would end up.” Lunetta replied, her voice soft, as if to try and keep the attention focussed away from her conversation with Cerwynn. “These people will defend you as much as you defend them. These people care for your life much as they care for their comrades lives and their own. Inside this city, there are people who can aid if necessary. Outside the city are sure to be some of the best mages and physicks the Empire can offer. Should any of you be injured, I am sure medical attention will not be far off.” She replied. “The result of this battle is not determined yet. The outcome is still unknown. You have it within your power, and within your unit’s capability, to make a difference to that outcome. See it as a chance to survive, and help others survive, not a place for you and your unit to meet your end.” She implored.
“My Brother would disagree with you, but… I have not had to face his judgement for a long time. Maybe you are right,” he sighs, then smiles passively at Lunetta, “You are a fine priest Lunetta. The League are lucky to have you.”
Lunetta smiled, and nodded in thanks. “And the Navarr, and your unit, are lucky to have you. I believe you and your unit will come out safely of this battle. And if I am proven wrong, I am only within the city’s limits. I will not be far away if you wish to seek me out.”
“I may do. Battle seems to bring out the lowest moods in me. I am told my father was much the same when he served in the Thornborn.”
Lunetta looked at Cerwynn and then chuckled. “Yet another term I don’t understand, I’m afraid.”
Cerwynn smiled more broadly, more naturally, “Thorn, plural. Seems I still have a lot to teach you about Navarr custom. There’s still plenty of road luckily.”
“I’ll be a scholar on the subject before we know it!” She grinned.
“So, about the Trods…”
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